Man sent to prison for selling data of 7 millions elderly Americans
Patch: Verify data handling policies and audit data access to prevent unauthorized data sales.
Patch: Verify data handling policies and audit data access to prevent unauthorized data sales.
Summary
A North Carolina man, Troy Murray, was sentenced to 121 months in prison for selling personal information of over 7 million elderly Americans to Jamaican scammers.
Between 2016 and 2023, Murray sold lead lists containing names, phone numbers, physical addresses, and email addresses for $500 per list of 100–300 names, generating more than $5.2 million. The data were used by scammers to commit lottery fraud, resulting in victim losses exceeding $9.5 million. Murray’s alias, Steve Dixon, was widely known among Jamaican scammers and even referenced in a 2022 song lyric. He also used prepaid gift cards to receive payments after his payment platforms were blocked. The case highlights the growing threat of elder fraud and the need for stringent data handling and privacy controls.
Key changes
- 7 million elderly Americans’ personal data sold to Jamaican scammers
- 22,000 lead lists sold between 2016‑2023
- $5.2 million revenue, victims lost $9.5 million
- Each list sold for $500, 100–300 names
- Data used for lottery fraud
- Payments received via prepaid gift cards after platform blocks
- Alias Steve Dixon known among scammers
- Case underscores need for strict data handling and privacy controls